Round 6
Les Catalans Dragons 24 l. Bradford Bulls 30

2009 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Bulls edge out Bird led Dragons for first victory of the season
Sun March 22, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Comeback man Dave Halley earned Bradford Bulls their first win of the engage Super League season with the last play of the match in a dramatic clash in Perpignan.

The winger had been recalled from a loan spell at Wakefield Wildcats earlier this week and returned to score an amazing 80th-minute try to ease the pressure on Bulls boss Steve McNamara.

Now it is Catalans coach Kevin Walters who is under the cosh after his side slipped to their fifth defeat of the year.

The gutted hosts thought they had ended the rut when Jean-Philippe Baile's 67th-minute try gave them the lead for the first time since the fourth minute.

Catalans had already had three efforts turned down by the video referee after powering past the visitors in the second half.

But Bradford clung on and Terry Newton's 74th-minute touchdown brought them back to just two points behind.

Paul Sykes missed the easy conversion but slotted a 77th-minute penalty to level. Bradford then lined up for a drop goal in the dying seconds but, as the Catalans defence pressured, Sykes handed on to Ben Jeffries who darted clear and sent Halley over.

It means Bradford remain the only side to boast a 100% record in Perpignan.

Thomas Bosc put the hosts ahead with a fourth-minute penalty but Bradford started strongest and soon built up a deserved 12-2 lead.

Jeffries' perfectly-weighted chip landed in Steve Menzies' grasp for a simple walk-in and soon after Semi Tadulala hit a gap before producing a great step to leave Clint Greenshields rooted.

Paul Deacon improved both scores and Bradford were full of confidence.

A couple of cheap penalties handed Catalans some much-needed field position and from that winger Thomas Duport hit back in the corner on 18 minutes.

Bosc improved but a Deacon penalty kept the visitors out in front and they extended that lead when Rikki Sheriffe grabbed his third try in as many games with a fine score.

Menzies started the movement deep inside his own half with Sykes bumping his way clear and Deacon supporting the break before Sheriffe finished.

Deacon could not convert and it looked like it might prove costly as Catalans finally came to life with two tries in three minutes just before the break.

New skipper Greg Bird capitalised when Michael Platt dropped a Bosc bomb and then Olivier Elima powered over from close range with Bosc converting twice to make it 18-18 at the interval.

Catalans - with Bird immense against the side he originally signed for before hitting visa trouble - bossed the second half and could not believe it when each 'try' was ruled out.

They thought Baile had got them only their second win but then Halley popped up with his fifth try of the season, having hit four in his loan spell at Wakefield.


Bulls Eye: Bradford v Catalans
Thu March 19, 2009
Source: www.bradfordbulls.co.uk

Bradford Coach Steve McNamara previews the Bradford v Catalans round 6 engage Super League clash at Perpignan.

STEVE McNAMARA
TRAVELLING TO FRANCE HAS ITS OWN LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS. HOW DO YOU COPE WITH THEM?
We have tended to go at this time of year and as there are no direct flights to Perpignan we have go the long way round but we are used to it now and we are unbeaten in France since they came into the competition. It takes a lot of hard work and tenacity to go out there and get the win and we certainly have that but we are probably a little bit down on belief at the moment. They are a very tough side and the conditions can also be very tough. Traditionally there is a very strong wind in the Catalans region at this time of year and you have to cope with it. It can mean you have to play a different style of football in each half of the game. There are two league points at stake and we are desperate to get them.

The Catalans supporters certainly make a lot of noise and create a tense atmosphere and I think they have been a great addition to the competition. I think people were a little bit sceptical, especially after Paris St Germain folded, but it has taken off. They are a very good side, have been in the Challenge Cup Final and the Play Offs and they are a tough side to beat. We are not afraid to go there, because no opposition or venue daunts us but to get the two points this week would be really nice for us.

DO YOU FEEL YOU ARE GOING INTO THE GAME WITH A BIT OF A CLOUD HANGING OVER YOUR HEAD WITH THE WAY THINGS HAVE GONE SO FAR??
Perhaps from the outside looking in but certainly not from the inside. We are very positive here and we feel we are not only very close to getting one win but a lot of wins and the way the players are preparing, week in and week out, then we will certainly turn it round, because believe me they are preparing very well.

You have difficult patches as a Coach even when you are winning. There are still issues to and problems to solve and at this time we are just not where we want to be on the league ladder and have not got the start we wanted but there are a whole lot of positives for us. We always put pressure on ourselves as a Coaching staff and a group of people to perform well and that will always remain the same but rather than hide from the challenge that's in front of us - don't get me wrong I am really disappointed as to where we are - I am looking forward to embracing this challenge and getting us back to where we need to be and that's what we are focused on.

AS COACHES YOU ARE HERE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS?
That's right and there's no two ways about it. We want to put together a side that's very competitive and one that can compete for trophies. I know we have got that and I know we have a fantastic side. They know that and they also know they haven't produced it yet but it will come.

SQUAD
McNamara is likely to name virtually the same 19 man squad as last week with the exception of Dave Halley, who has come back from Wakefield and replaces Halifax loanee Matt James in the squad.

Shoulder injury victim David Solomona is not yet fit to return and long term knee injury victim Tame Tupou is also not available.

The squad is likely to be: Matt Cook, Jamie Langley, Rikki Sheriffe, Sam Burgess, Paul Sykes, Nick Scruton, Steve Menzies, Terry Newton, Jason Crookes, Paul Deacon, Dave Halley, Glenn Morrison, Andy Lynch, Craig Kopczak, Ben Jeffries, Semi Tadulala, Michael Worrincy, Michael Platt, Chris Nero

MILESTONES
TERRY NEWTON needs 4 points for a total of 100 for the Bulls. He has scored 24 tries in 74 appearances

RIKKI SHERIFFE needs 1 try for career total of 300 points. He has scored 74 tries for a points total of 296.

PAUL DEACON, who has kicked 11 goals from 13 attempts this season for a percentage of 84.62%, needs 11 points for a career total of 2500 points. He has scored 78 tries, kicked 1077 goals, 23 drop goals for a total of 2489 points in his 333 games.

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